Near-infrared spectroscopic analysis of blood vessel walls

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to methods and devices for characterizing tissue in vivo, e.g., in walls of blood vessels, to determine whether the tissue is healthy or diseased.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to near-infrared spectroscopic examination ofblood vessels to detect and characterize lesions such as atheroscleroticplaques.

BACKGROUND

Atherosclerosis is an arterial disorder involving the intima of medium-or large-sized arteries, including the aortic, carotid, coronary, andcerebral arteries. Atherosclerotic lesions or plaques contain a complextissue matrix, including collagen, elastin, proteoglycans, andextracellular and intracellular lipids with foamy macrophages and smoothmuscle cells. In addition, inflammatory cellular components (e.g., Tlymphocytes, macrophages, and some basophils) can also be found in theseplaques. Disruption or rupture of atherosclerotic plaques appears to bethe major cause of heart attacks and strokes, because after the plaquesrupture, local obstructive thromboses form within the blood vessels.Although the risk of plaque rupture usually cannot be predicted, manypostmortem examinations have revealed that this risk depends mainly onplaque composition. Most ruptured atherosclerotic plaques arecharacterized structurally by the formation of a large, soft,lipid-rich, necrotic core covered by a thin fibrous cap, denselyinfiltrated by macrophages. Of these features, lipid accumulation inso-called “lipid pools” is the most frequently observed precondition forrupture. Inflammation is also a major feature of nonruptured, buteroded, thrombosed plaques.

Near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has been used in industry for over 20years for analysis of chemical materials either quantitatively orqualitatively. It has played a significant role in process and productcontrol functions, because the spectra are not severely affected byatmospheric water or carbon dioxide. NIR spectra consist of overtonesand combinations of fundamental IR bands, which can lower the resolutionof the spectral features compared to other spectroscopic methods thathave narrower bands, such as infrared (IR). However, new statisticaltechniques can be used to extract useful information from the lowerresolution NIR spectral data. For example, chemometrics, which combinesspectroscopy and mathematics, can provide clear qualitative as well asquantitative information. Thus, NIR spectroscopy combined withchemometrics has been used more frequently in a number of disciplines.

For example, NIR spectra have been obtained of biological tissue samplesin vitro. In addition, some efforts have been made to image tissues invivo; however, such imaging poses numerous challenges, including theproblem of imaging though whole blood, which can mask and obscurespectral images of desired targets.

SUMMARY

The invention is based on the discovery that if one uses two or moresingle wavelengths and/or one or more narrow wavelength bands (covering,e.g., 2 to 10, 20, 30, or more nanometers up to about 100 mn) within aspecific range of NIR wavelengths (1100 to 1415 nanometers), one cancharacterize vascular tissue, in vivo, e.g., through whole blood, todetermine the composition of the tissue, e.g., the chemical composition,including the presence of lipid components, which can indicate whether aparticular tissue is diseased or not diseased. In particular, one cancharacterize lesions of the tissue as “vulnerable,” i.e., likely torupture, and thus life-threatening, or “safe,” and thus notlife-threatening. Thus, the invention features methods of discriminatingbetween diseased and healthy tissue in a blood vessel wall in vivo.

In general, the invention features methods of spectroscopicallyanalyzing blood vessel walls in vivo using two or more singlewavelengths or any one or more wavelength bands, each covering 1 to 10,20, 30, or more nanometers of NIR radiation within a wavelength range of1100 to 1415 nm, to illuminate the blood vessel walls. The use of thesesingle wavelengths or narrow bands within this small wavelength rangesimplifies data acquisition and analysis, yet provides highly accurateand repeatable results. The vessel walls can be illuminated and thediffusely reflected light resulting from illumination of the walls canbe analyzed either with blood in the vessel, or optionally with bloodremoved or replaced, e.g., temporarily, from the vessel.

Due to the nature of devices that generate light and radiation,illumination of a sample or target tissue with a “single wavelength”means illumination with a peak intensity at a specific wavelength, alongwith some illumination of the adjacent wavelengths.

The methods include illuminating the vessel wall and then collecting theradiation reflected via an optical fiber within a catheter thenconverting the reflectance intensities into absorbance intensities as afunction of wavelength, and optionally pre-processing the spectra usingtechniques, such as mean centering (MC), autoscaling, normalization,first and second derivatives, smoothing options such as Savitzky Golaysmoothing, varied baseline removal techniques, orthogonal signalcorrection, generalized least squares filtering, wavelets, standardnormal variant (SNV) techniques, multiplicative scatter correction (MSC)techniques, and other techniques used to remove unwanted signals.

In general, the invention features an in vivo method for characterizingtissue in a blood vessel wall by (a) illuminating a tissue in the bloodvessel wall with any two or more single wavelengths or one or morenarrow wavelength bands of near-infrared radiation within a wavelengthrange of about 1100 to 1415 nm; (b) detecting radiation reflected fromthe tissue having a wavelength of from about 1100 to 1415 nm; (c)processing the detected radiation to characterize the tissue in theblood vessel wall; and (d) providing an output indicating the tissuecharacterization.

The invention also includes a method of analyzing tissue in blood vesselwalls in vivo utilizing a fiber optic probe by introducing the probeinto a blood vessel; directing onto the tissue in the blood vessel wallnear-infrared radiation comprising any two or more single wavelengths orone or more narrow wavelength bands within a wavelength range of about1100 to 1415 nm; detecting radiation within a wavelength range fromsubstantially 1100 to 1415 nm not absorbed by the blood vessel wall; andanalyzing the detected radiation to categorize the tissue in the bloodvessel wall.

In all of these methods, the one or more narrow wavelength bands caneach span about 1.0 nm to about 100 nm within the wavelength range of1100 to 1415 nm. Alternatively, the method can use two singlewavelengths, or two narrow wavelength bands, each spanning 1.0 nm to 30nm within the wavelength range of 1100 to 1415 nm, or at least onenarrow wavelength band and at least one single wavelength.

In these methods, the wavelength range can be about 1100 to 1350 nm,1150 to 1250 nm, 1175 to 1280 nm, or about 1190 to 1250 nm. The bloodvessel can be an artery, e.g., a coronary artery, and the tissue caninclude a lipid pool, a lipid pool and a thin fibrous cap, a lipid pooland a thick fibrous cap, and fibrotic and/or calcific tissue. The methodcan be used to illuminate tissue through blood, e.g., through 1, 2, 3 ormore mm of blood.

In certain embodiments, the method can also include illuminating thetissue in the blood vessel wall with any two or more single wavelengthsor one or more narrow wavelength bands of near-infrared radiation withina second wavelength range of about 1650 nm to 1780 nm; and furtherdetecting radiation reflected from the tissue having a second wavelengthof from about 1650 nm to 1780 nm. This second wavelength range can alsobe about 1650 to 1730 nm.

In all of these methods, the processing can be done using chemometricdiscrimination algorithms, and the methods can further includepreprocessing the detected radiation to remove spectral information notrelated to a characterization of the tissue.

In another aspect, the invention also includes an apparatus forcharacterizing tissue in vivo that includes a near-infrared radiationsource that generates radiation comprising any two or more singlewavelengths or one or more narrow wavelength bands of near-infraredradiation within a wavelength range of about 1100 to 1415 nm, e.g., 1100to 1350 or 1150 to 1250 nm; one or more radiation conduits fortransmitting radiation from the radiation source to the tissue and forreceiving radiation not absorbed by the tissue; a radiation detectorthat collects radiation not absorbed by the tissue across a wavelengthrange of substantially 1100 to 1415 nm; a processor that processes thecollected radiation to characterize the tissue; and an output devicethat indicates the characterization of the tissue. For example, thenear-infrared radiation source can generate two narrow wavelength bands,each spanning 1.0 nm to 30 nm within the wavelength range of 1100 to1415 nm. The apparatus can further include a near-infrared radiationsource that generates radiation comprising any two or more singlewavelengths or one or more narrow wavelength bands of near-infraredradiation within a second wavelength range of about 1650 to 1780 nm. Thesource for the second wavelength range can be the same as or differentfrom the source that generates the first wavelength range.

In another embodiment, the invention includes an instrument forcharacterizing portions of tissue in vivo that includes a) means forilluminating portions of tissue with near-infrared radiation comprisingany two or more single wavelengths or one or more narrow wavelengthbands of near-infrared radiation within a wavelength range of about 1100to 1415 nm; b) means for collecting radiation within the wavelengthrange that is not absorbed by the tissue; c) means for determining fromthe collected radiation the amounts of absorbance of radiation by theilluminated tissue; and d) means for discriminating one illuminatedtissue component from another illuminated tissue component within thewavelength range, wherein the discriminating means that include i) meansfor preprocessing the absorbance amounts using a chemometricpreprocessing technique, and ii) means for performing a chemometricdiscrimination algorithm on the preprocessed absorbance amounts tocharacterize the tissues; and e) means for providing an outputindicating the characterization of the illuminated tissue.

All of the methods herein can further include applying chemometricalgorithms designed to characterize a lesion based on its tissue type orby the presence of specific chemical compositions. These algorithms canbe developed to operate independently of blood depth, using spectraacquired at various blood depths, or developed using tissue type dataand/or the presence of specific chemical compositions as determined bystandard methods (e.g., pathology or chemical analysis).

In certain embodiments, the lesions are designated as falling within oneof two categories: vulnerable (life-threatening) and safe (notlife-threatening). One or more tissue types or specific chemicalcompositions may fall within each category. For example, a lesion withhigh lipid content and a thin fibrous cap is considered a “vulnerable”plaque, one which is life threatening. Lesions that mainly containfibrous, calcific, and/or have a high lipid content, but with a thickfibrous cap, as well as normal or pre-atheroma tissue, are characterizedas “safe.”

In another embodiment, the lesion is continuously graded by the outputof the algorithm as to its “vulnerability potential” where a stable,safe lesion may be arbitrarily designated a low risk index (e.g. <1.0)and a plaque that is of very high risk is assigned a high risk index(e.g. 10).

In other embodiments, the lesions are designated as falling within oneof three categories: vulnerable (high lipid content, thin cap),potentially vulnerable (i.e., monitor the lesion over time; high lipid,thick cap), and safe (fibrous, calcific, normal, or pre-atheroma). Inother embodiments, the lesions are designated as falling within one offive categories: lipid-containing tissue with a thin fibrous cap,lipid-containing tissue with a thick fibrous cap, fibrous tissue,largely calcific tissue, and normal or pre-atheroma tissue. Thesedifferent categories can be used to provide additional diagnostic andprognostic information as compared to the methods in which only two orthree categories are provided. In this, and other embodiments, thechemometric algorithm can be based on the presence of other chemicalcompositions relating the lipid pool and thin cap, along with othermarkers, to an index of vulnerability by developing algorithms usingspectra acquired from various tissue types or chemical compositionswhich are known by standard methods (e.g., pathology or chemicalanalysis) as part of the discrimination method.

In other embodiments, the chemometric algorithm is applied to classifyspectral measurements into one of two or more depth classes (e.g., 0 to1.5 mm and 1.5 mm and above away from the tissue). In this, and otherembodiments, the chemometric algorithm can be based on the depthclassification, both in the presence of or without blood, and can beapplied to discriminate tissue types or the presence of chemicalcompositions, or the algorithm can be developed using spectra acquiredat various depths, and using tissue types or chemical compositions whichare known by standard methods (e.g., pathology or chemical analysis) aspart of the discrimination method.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materialssimilar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in thepractice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods andmaterials are described below. All publications, patent applications,patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated byreference in their entirety. In case of conflict, the presentspecification, including definitions, will control. In addition, thematerials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intendedto be limiting.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an imaging system for spectroscopicallyanalyzing blood vessel walls using the new methods. Either a singlefiber may be used for both delivery and detection of light or multipleillumination-detection fiber channels can be employed.

FIG. 2 is a plot of NIR absorbance versus wavelength for various humanaorta samples resulting from illumination of the tissue with NIRradiation within the wavelength range of 1100 to 1850 nm. Spectra forcalcific, fibrotic, lipid-containing, and normal tissues are shown.

FIG. 3 is a plot of NIR absorbance versus wavelength for various humanaorta samples resulting from illumination of the tissue with NIRradiation within the wavelength range of 1100 to 1350 nm. Spectra forcalcific, fibrotic, disrupted plaques, lipid-containing, and normaltissues are shown.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are plots of diseased tissue samples as a function ofdistance from the top of the tissue to the base of the fiber optic probespanning eight different tissue-to-probe separations from 0.0 mm to 3.0mm with blood intervening. FIG. 4B is a plot of the data shown in 4A,only the data have been offset by the absorbance at 1125 nm for eachspectrum.

FIG. 5 is a plot of NIR absorbance versus wavelength for the same humanaortic tissue samples as those displayed in FIG. 3, but after processingwith a standard normal variant (SNV) technique. As shown, the spectrafor calcific, fibrotic, disrupted plaque, lipid-containing tissues, andnormal tissues, tend to overlap after SNV processing which removed thescattering differences of the samples.

FIG. 6 is a plot of NIR absorbance versus wavelength for the same humanaortic tissue after processing with a standard normal variant (SNV)technique as seen in FIG. 5, but the whole group of spectra was furtherprocessed by the addition of a mean centering (MC) technique whichprovides a global mean for all the spectra used to build the model.These techniques when combined indicate where the areas of greatestinfluence are within the spectral information.

FIG. 7 is a schematic of a processing technique combining principalcomponent analysis (PCA), a spectral decomposition method which breaksthe original data into two matrices that contain the Principal Component(PC) vectors and the resultants scalars or Scores (S), coupled with theaddition of the spectral residuals (R) to create an appended Scoresmatrix called Sr, and then applying the non-linear statistics of theMahalanobis Distance (MD) calculations to the appended Scores (Sr)resulting in a discrimination method termed PCA/MDR.

FIG. 8A is a “projection plot” representing the mean predictionperformance results from multiple calibration models using two separate30 nm band regions and preprocessed using SNV plus MC. Specific areas ofhigh Mean Performance occur in the lighter shaded areas and inparticular in the regions from 1100 nm to 1415 nm.

FIGS. 8B and 8C are two additional projection plots of the meanperformance using two separate 30 nm bands as in FIG. 8A, but tested ata higher resolution of 2 nm intervals and spanning the region from 1100nm to 1350 nm. The highest Mean Performance for FIG. 8B occurred in thelighter shaded areas and in particular in the region from 1150 nm to1250 nm, and for FIG. 8C, the region spanned from 1175 nm to 1280 nm.

FIG. 9 is a plot of a partial least squares-discriminate analysis(PLS-DA) model of PCA scores between 1100 and 1350 nm. A line is drawnto best separate the scores from the lipid pool samples (LP) from thoseof all other samples (in this case they were the calcific (CAL) and thefibrotic (FIB) sample scores).

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the NIR spectroscopy experimentalsetup.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of the histology layout used forprocessing the tissue specimen. Nine segments were sliced by hand(labeled A1 through C3) with the segments subtended by the FOSS® probeillumination circle (center circle) of most importance (segments A3, B1,B2, B3, C1) in the analysis. The stars indicate the approximate centerof each of the segments where the slices for slides were taken to avoidedge effects from the gross cutting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

General Methodology

In general, the invention features methods of using any two or moresingle wavelengths or one or more narrow wavelength bands, each covering1 to 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, even 100 or more nm, of NIR radiationwithin the wavelength range of 1100 to 1415 nm (e.g., 1100 to 1350 nm,1100 to 1300 nm, 1150 to 1255 nm, 1200 to 1250 nm, or 1175 to 1225 nm)to illuminate blood vessel walls in vivo, with or without the presenceof blood. Data obtained within these wavelengths enable the operator todistinguish between diseased and healthy tissue located within a bloodvessel wall.

The single wavelengths can be used in pairs or in combinations ofmultiple single discontinuous wavelengths, or in conjunction with one ormore of the narrow wavelength bands. The wavelength bands can be usedindividually, in pairs, or other multiples and with the same ordifferent band widths. For example, one can use a 10, 20, or 30 nm band,e.g., from the 1190 to 1220 nm region, and combine it with a band fromthe 1220 to 1250 nm region, as the incident NIR radiation to illuminateblood vessel walls in vivo.

More specifically, by obtaining data at two or more single wavelengths,e.g., at 1190 and 1250 nm, or from one or more narrow wavelength bands,or a combination of single wavelengths with narrow band regions (e.g.,1190 to 1250 nm, or 1145 to 1175 nm with 1250 to 1280 nm or 1175 to 1205nm with 1310 to 1340 nm) one can get sufficient information to make aclear diagnosis of any lesion, such as an atherosclerotic plaque, in ablood vessel wall as either vulnerable or safe. Of course, largerregions, such as the full 1100 to 1415 nm range, 1150 to 1350 or 1250nm, 1175 to 1250 nm, 1100 to 1200 nm, 1200 to 1300 nm, 1250 to 1350 nm,1215 to 1285 nm, and the like also work, and provide even moreinformation, but at the cost of added computational complexity.

The narrow bands or regions covering 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, up to 100 ormore nm, can also be used in pairs or triplets (or more), as long as atleast one band region is within the overall range of 1100 to 1415 nm.Thus, for example, illumination in the 1100 to 1415 nm wavelength rangecan be combined with illumination in the about 1560 to 1780 nm range(e.g., 1600 to 1780, 1600 to 1700 nm, or 1650 to 1745 or 1730 nm).

If more than one band is used, the pairs or triplets can be, but neednot be, contiguous. For example, one can use a 30 nm band from 1190 to1220 nm, and a second band from 1220 to 1250 nm as the incident NIRradiation to illuminate blood vessel walls in vivo. Alternatively, onecan use a band that covers from 1145 to 1175 nm and another band thatcovers from 1250 to 1280 nm. One can also use a narrow band that coversfrom 1175 to 1205 nm and a band that covers from 1310 to 1340 nm. Otherpairs, triplets, or multiplets of bands or single intensities can beused. In addition, the pairs, triplets, or multiplets of bands can be ofdifferent sizes, e.g., a pair of bands where one covers a band of 20 nmand the other covers 40 nm, or the same size, e.g., a pair in which bothbands cover 30 nm. Other examples and combinations are possible. Forexample, one can use a single wavelength and a narrow band, or twosingle wavelengths, or two single wavelengths and two different bands.One can also use three, four, or more single wavelengths within the 1100to 1350 range.

One important aspect of the 1100 to 1350 range of wavelengths is that itallows one to obtain relevant spectral data from blood vessel walls invivo through blood (and independent of the distance from theillumination tip to the vessel wall), which can otherwise interfere withaccurate readings at other wavelengths. This spectral data enablesaccurate characterization of the vessel wall in vivo as diseased or notdiseased tissue. Not only does this wavelength range enable collectionof data relevant to detecting lesions, such as atherosclerotic plaques,through blood within a living subject, such as a human or animal, itpermits the operator to characterize the lesion, i.e., to determinewhether a detected plaque is “vulnerable,” i.e., likely to rupture, or“safe,” i.e., unlikely to rupture. More specific characterization isalso possible.

The spectra received from the blood vessel walls are analyzed by takingsingle point readings and determining whether the location of the vesselwall corresponding to that point reading is predominantly lipid with athin cap (vulnerable or “life-threatening”), lipid with a thick fibrouscap (potentially vulnerable), or predominantly non-lipid, normal,fibrotic, or calcific (safe or “non-life threatening”). Thus, theoperator can create two (vulnerable/diseased or safe/healthy), three(vulnerable (diseased), potentially vulnerable (diseased), or safe(healthy)), or more different categories for lesion types as describedfurther herein.

The new methods of analyzing tissue in vivo broadly include the steps ofdirecting NIR radiation onto the tissue to be analyzed (though blood orwithout blood) and then detecting the resultant radiation, convertingthe reflected signal to absorption values, optionally preprocessing thereturned signal, and processing the NIR radiation reflected by thetissue. The tissue lesions can be located in any blood vessel, includingthe aorta and arteries such as the coronary, carotid, femoral, renal,and iliac arteries. As indicated above, the incident NIR radiationdirected onto the blood vessel walls is any two or more singlewavelengths or any one or more narrow bands within the wavelength rangefrom 1100 to 1415 nm. To obtain the spectrum, the incident NIR radiationmust be directed onto the blood vessels walls, and the spectrum must becollected from the blood vessel walls. These steps are carried out usinga fiber optic probe or catheter that is introduced into the blood vesselin a subject, such as a human or animal, e.g., a domestic animal such asmammals, e.g., dogs, cats, horses, pigs, cows, rabbits, mice, hamsters,government officials, and the like. The new methods can also be carriedout on non-human primates, such as monkeys, but are typically used forhuman patients.

The spectrum can be collected using the same fiber optic cable oranother channel separate from the illumination fiber optic cable, whichcan be in the form of a catheter or probe that delivers the reflectanceillumination from a single light source as seen in FIG. 1. The detectorconverts the collected NIR radiation into an electrical signal, whichcan be subsequently processed using signal processing techniques.Alternatively, multiple illuminators and detectors can be used withinthe fiber optic system, using a single or multiple fiber assembly forboth illumination and collection of the NIR radiation.

The methods further include the steps of analyzing the electrical signalcorresponding to the reflectance spectra, and producing graphical orother representations thereof. The electrical signal may be converted todigital data. Advantageously, all of the steps provide high-speed dataacquisition and analysis, because only single wavelengths or narrowbands of wavelengths are used in the new methods. Such steps can beperformed using, for example, a processing chip, DSP, EPROM, etc., suchas those found in personal computers, and an appropriate algorithm,e.g., a chemometric algorithm, which can be embodied in the processingsoftware or processing hardware. Based on this analysis, vascular tissuecan be characterized as to its composition, or as to whether it isdiseased or not diseased. For example, the vessel wall may becharacterized as to whether it is high in lipid content, fibrouscontent, and/or calcific content. These parameters enable the user tocategorize the lesion as either vulnerable (diseased orlife-threatening) or safe (healthy or non-life-threatening). In otherembodiments, the lesions can be characterized as vulnerable(lipid-containing tissue with a thin fibrous cap (diseased)),potentially vulnerable (lipid-containing tissue with a thick fibrous cap(diseased)), or safe (fibrous or calcific tissue, (but still diseased)).The “diseased” categories can be separated as well to provide diseasedcategories or classifications, and a normal (healthy) category for ablood vessel wall without any lesions.

Once a lesion or plaque is detected and determined to be vulnerable (ordiseased), various technologies can be used for removing or stabilizingthe plaque before it ruptures. For example, lasers can be used to ablatethe plaque (see, e.g., Leon et al., J. Am. Coll. Radiol., 12:94-102,1988; Gaffney et al., Lasers Surg. Med., 9:215-228, 1989).Alternatively, one can use brachytherapy, angioplasty, stenting (coatedor not), and photodynamic therapy.

Preprocessing of Data

The digital data may be first preprocessed to remove interferantsunrelated to the signal of interest, such as the baseline slope, theoffset, and/or the linear or multiplicative effects of scattering. Thespectral data can also be centered with respect to each other,autoscaled, normalized, etc. to enhance the small spectral featurespertaining to the component of interest

The benefits of preprocessing are demonstrated in an experiment in whichspectra were obtained through bovine blood of four tissue types found inatheromatous human aortas. The absorbance versus wavelength spectra areshown in FIG. 2 from 1100 nm to 1850 nm. Three disease states arerepresented as a composition of mainly lipid pool, fibrotic, orcalcific, with one spectrum of the normal tissue. These diseased stateswere determined using the histology and pathology analysis and thencategorized and separated by the amount of each composition contained inthat particular diseased plaque. FIG. 3 shows similar spectra within thesmaller wavelength range of 1100 to 14150 nm. Five categories are shown,including calcific, fibrotic, disrupted plaque, lipid-containing, andnormal. FIGS. 4A and 4B show spectra of a diseased tissue sample viewedthrough various depths of sample to probe separations with bovine bloodintervening. Plot 4B has been adjusted by removing the offset at 1125 nmfrom each of the spectra to remove the major differences due to thesample to probe separation. Measurements were made at 0.0, 0.25, 0.5,1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 mm from the tissue surface. As the probemoves further away from the tissue surface, the features seen when theprobe was pressed against the tissue become much weaker.

The absorbance can be used directly, but as can be seen from FIGS. 2 and3, there are offsets and slopes that in general confound the informationcoming from the absorbance related to the chemical composition or tissuetype. There are a number of ways to preprocess the spectra to removethese unwanted effects of shifted baselines and slopes from both theinstrument and the biological system effects, along with those ofscattering from the biological. Such methods include, but are notrestricted to, first or second derivatives, normalization, autoscaling,multiple forms of baseline removal, mean centering (MC), multiplicativescatter correction, standard normal variant (SNV), Savitsky Golaysmoothing, detrending, OSC, GLS filtering, wavelet filtering, FIRfiltering, and combinations thereof, but not limited to these options.The spectra can be untreated, using the raw absorbance measurements, orthey can be pre-processed before further data manipulation within themodel building application. In one embodiment, the preprocessing optionis standard normal variant combined with mean centering. In otherembodiments, the preprocessing option is SNV with MC and detrending, orthe spectra are pretreated by removal of the central mean (MC-meancentering). In another embodiment, the preprocessing is aSavistsky-Golay smoothing first derivative.

For example, spectra of the specimens shown in FIG. 3 were preprocessedusing standard normal variant (SNV) preprocessing. The results are shownin FIG. 5, which clearly demonstrates the successful use of apreprocessing option to remove the scatter between the differentdiseased tissue spectra, which can otherwise interfere with the processanalysis. To further enhance the information contained within thepreprocessed spectra, one can use additional techniques. For example,FIG. 6 shows spectra preprocessed with both SNV and mean centering (MC).Comparing FIG. 5 to FIG. 6, it is clear that there are a number of areaswithin the spectra that vary greatly with the additional preprocessingtreatment of MC added to SNV. However, the regions in the spectrum thatcorrespond to the chemical composition of interest within the lesion (inthis case lipid pool concentration) are not easily obtained by merelyobserving the results of the preprocessed data. Thus, the preprocesseddigital data is typically processed further to obtain a correlationbetween the data and the actual constituents within a blood vessel wall,i.e., to determine whether a lesion is vulnerable or safe.

Processing Data

The digital data can be further processed using any or a variety ofdiscrimination algorithms to determine the nature of the correlationbetween the constituents within the blood vessel walls (as determined byan external means such as morphometry measurements or chemical analysis)and the spectral features obtained in the NIR spectrum (the digitaldata). Useful discrimination algorithms use computerized mathematicalmodels developed by modeling the relationship between spectra and tissuestates of known tissue samples. These models are typically based onlarge amounts of patient data or ex vivo data simulating in vivo data.The mathematical models can be based upon chemometric techniques such asPartial Least Squares Discrimination Analysis (PLS-DA), PrincipleComponent Analysis with Mahalanobis Distance and augmented Residuals(PCA/MDR), and others such as PCA with K-nearest neighbor, PCA withEuclidean Distance, SIMCA, the bootstrap error-adjusted single-sampletechnique (BEST), neural networks and support vector machines, and othertypes of discrimination means.

The discrimination algorithm is applied to the digital data from thespectra of an unknown tissue sample in a blood vessel wall to categorizea particular location or point within the tissue. For example, thetissue can be characterized as being part of a lesion or plaque, and ifso, whether this is a vulnerable or safe plaque as described above. Anoutput, such as a audible or visual representation, e.g., a graph orother output, can be provided to indicate to the operator thecharacterization of the vascular tissue, including whether theilluminated blood vessel wall includes a plaque, and if so, whether theplaque is vulnerable or safe, or falls within one of the othercategories described above or simply whether the site of illuminationcontains a plaque that is vulnerable.

Many different types of discrimination algorithms can be used, from thebasic form of a simple absorbance comparison between two or morewavelengths, or analysis of large data matrices (raw or preprocessed)with techniques based upon multiple linear regression, PrincipalComponent Analysis (PCA) as described by Malinowski et al, in “FactorAnalysis in Chemistry” John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1980. These methodsare used to obtain a metric to determine the nature of the diseasedtissue from which the groups can be separated.

For example, one embodiment uses PCA, which enables the use of largeamounts of spectral data information, which can be decomposed (andtherefore compressed) into a matrix of factors (or vectors, principlecomponents, latent variables, eigenvectors, etc.) that retain only thelargest variations expressed by all the spectra of the tissue type ofinterest, and a matrix of the resultant scores (or scalars, eigenvalues,etc.) used to scale the amplitude of each of the factor vectors. Theupper half of FIG. 7 is a schematic that depicts the PCA process ofspectral decomposition of the original spectrum into the Scores (S) andPrincipal Component (PC) matrices. As shown in the lower half of FIG. 7,the results are then analyzed by reconstructing the spectra from thecombination of the S and PC values and then minimize the differencebetween the comparison of the original to the reconstructed spectrausing the residuals (left over values from the comparison squared andthen summed).

Once a metric has been chosen (in the case of PCA it is the resultantscores), a threshold is applied to determine the likelihood of whetherthe unknown tissue spectrum can be classified as the diseased tissuetype or not. Many methods can be used for this determination such as asimple wavelength comparison technique using linear regression lines, ormore complex geometries such as Euclidean or Mahalanobis distances asthresholds for more complicated separations. When analyzing largevolumes of spectral data, PCA can be used and can also be combined witha variety of metrics for discrimination such as a linear regressionline, e.g., such as the one used in the partial leastsquares-discriminate analysis (PLS-DA) method described in Ericsson etal., “Multi- and Megavariate Data) Analysis: Principles andApplications” (Umetrics Academy, 2001), Euclidean distance, andMahalanobis distance as described by Marks et al in the followingarticles: Analytical Chemistry, 57, 1449, (1985); Analytical Chemistry,58, 379, (1985) and Analytical Chemistry, 59, 790, (1987). Otherelements besides the scores of the PCA decomposition can be used for ametric with a threshold, such as the soft independent modeling of classanalogies (SIMCA) described in Gemperline et al., Anal. Chem., 61:138,(1989), the bootstrap error-adjusted single-sample technique (BEST)described in Lodder et al., Appl. Spec., 42:1352, (1988), and otherdiscriminatory techniques which use the residual rather than the scoresfrom the reconstructed spectra.

One embodiment combines PCA scores analysis using a linear thresholddetermined by minimizing the classification between two or more groupsto establish the boundary calculations termed the PLS-DA method.

Another embodiment of the model algorithm is a variation of PCA combinedwith statistics of Mahalanobis Distance (MD) and the addition of thespectral residuals (R) described in a similar method developed byGemperline et al., Anal. Chem., 62:465, (1990) (see FIG. 7) where theycombined PCA with SIMCA. This model embodiment, (PCA/MDR), developed byDuckworth, et al. of Galactic Industries and incorporated into theirPLSplus/IQ™ Chemometric software uses PCA, SIMCA, and MahalanobisDistances to determine the maximum discrimination of the model. Thismodel is formed by calculating the Mahalanobis distance threshold on thematrix of the PCA score values from the spectral decomposition augmentedwith the mean centered sum squared residuals left over from thecomparison of the reconstructed spectra to the original spectra used inthe model. This matrix is termed (Sr) in FIG. 7 and contains the scoresfor the description of the maximum variation of the spectra contained inthe model augmented with the mean centered summed squared residuals leftover from the PCA decomposition. These values are then subjected to theMahalanobis Distance calculations using the following equation:

$M = \frac{({Sr})^{T}({Sr})}{\left( {n - 1} \right)}$in which M is the Mahalanobis matrix, T indicates the transpose is takenof the Sr matrix, and normalized by n, the total number of spectra thatwere used to build the model. The Mahalanobis matrix is then used tocalculate the Mahalanobis Distance (D) for each Score (i) produced inthe model.D _(i)=√{square root over ((Sr _(i))M ⁻¹(Sr _(i))^(T))}{square root over((Sr _(i))M ⁻¹(Sr _(i))^(T))}

To make a comparison between all the members of the model, a root meansquared group (RMSG) size is then calculated for the model. This is doneby obtaining the sum of all the squares of the predicted distances foreach of the samples used in the model (D_(i)) normalized by the numberof samples used in the model (n):

${RMSG} = \sqrt{\frac{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{n}\; D_{i}^{2}}{\left( {n - 1} \right)}}$

The final calculation normalizes each of the Mahalanobis Distance(D_(i)) scores by the group normalization factor (RMSG). To determinewhether the normalized score values are within the model group oroutside of the model group values a boundary is set and in general thisboundary is set at 3 standard deviations away. The Mahalanobis Distanceis the first metric used to determine if an unknown sample is part ofthe model group or not.

The final decision as to whether a spectrum from an unknown tissuesample fits the particular model can be made using three metrics: (i)the fit of the unknown residual augmented scores to the MahalanobisDistance based upon the residual augmented scores of the model, (ii) theresultant residual of the unknown spectrum compared to a distributiontest such as a T-test or F-Test of the model residuals, and (iii) acomparison as to whether the unknown score fits within the range ofscores used to build the model.

To determine if the unknown sample is part of a specific group orcategory, the spectrum of the unknown is first preprocessed in the samemanner as the model and then decomposed into its PCA components plusresidual. The mean residual value obtained from the model is thensubtracted from the unknown residual to obtain the Sri value, where (i)represents the residual augmented scores vector for each of theindividual unknowns. This value is then applied to the followingequation to obtain the square of the Mahalanobis Distance (D) for eachof the (i) unknowns:D _(i)=√{square root over ((Sr _(i))M ⁻¹(Sr _(i))^(T))}{square root over((Sr _(i))M ⁻¹(Sr _(i))^(T))}

This distance is then divided by the group RMSG value before testing thecalculated Mahalanobis Distance of the unknown against the standarddeviation of the all the distances obtained from the model. In oneembodiment, three standard deviations (3σ) are used for the MahalanobisDistance boundary of the model. This is the first of three “flags” orindicators used as a disease index to ascertain whether the unknownsample falls within the model group (category) or not. The second flagis obtained from the model residuals. A standard distribution test suchas a T-test, Chi-Squared, or F-Test is then applied to the modelresiduals at some level such as the 99% level, and this value is used todetermine if future predicted residuals fall within the model range. Thethird flag is the comparison of the unknown score to the maximum andminimum score of the model or compared to a standard distribution testsuch as the T-test, Chi-Squared, or F-Test performed at some level suchas the 99% level. If any one of the three flags is not present (false),then the sample is ruled not to fall within the model group/categorybeing tested.

Devices for Use in the New Methods

To perform the new methods, an improved apparatus is provided foranalyzing lesions and plaques in blood vessel walls in vivo. Theapparatus can also be used for in vitro analysis. The new apparatusincludes an external radiation source, such as a laser or other NIRradiation source for transmitting the incident NIR radiation within thewavelength range of 1100 to 1350 nm and at sufficient power. This sourcecan provide the desired NIR radiation region by scanning or bygenerating NIR radiation that spans the wavelength bands describedherein. In addition, the source can provide two or more singlewavelengths within this range similar to filter based NIR instruments.The radiation can be delivered sequentially or simultaneously. A varietyof NIR sources can be used to provide the required incident NIRradiation. For example, NIR spectra can be obtained from human bloodvessels, such as the coronary arteries or aorta, using light sourcessuch as tunable semiconductor lasers or solid-state lasers,fiber-coupled systems such as Raman amplifier lasers, or super continuumfiber lasers and other light sources such that the wavelengths can bescanned. Alternatively, the light source may produce spectral bands thatenable simultaneous illumination of the specimen with all requiredwavelengths. Tuning and/or spectral detection must occur rapidly (<1second) to avoid motion artifacts within the arteries. Monochromaticfixed-wavelength sources such as lasers, LED's, semiconductor diodelasers, DFB, can also be multiplexed to serve as the illumination sourcefor spectroscopic measurement.

Radiation is carried from the NIR source to the blood vessel walls viaany of a number of types of fiber optic catheters or probes operativelyconnected to the NIR radiation source (see, e.g., Tearney et al., U.S.Pat. No. 6,134,003; Crowley et al. (BSC), U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,432; andColston, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,175,669. For example, the catheter canhave a single fiber optic core. A radiation directing or focusingmechanism can be mounted to the distal end of the catheter to enable theoperator to direct or focus the NIR radiation onto a desired target on ablood vessel wall. The focusing mechanism should be adapted to compressthe incident radiation beam from the transmitting catheter onto a smallspot on the tissue surface to be analyzed. NIR radiation reflected bythe tissue of the blood vessel wall can be directed into a receivingoptic fiber or fibers to provide a convenient, cost-effective means fordirecting the light reflected from the specimen to the spectroscopicmeasurement device. Additionally, the apparatus includes one or moredetectors present at the distal portion of the catheter for rapidlydetecting the radiation reflected or scattered back from the bloodvessel wall being illuminated.

FIG. 1 illustrates one of several embodiments of an apparatus 10 thatcan be used to carry out the present invention. Depending upon thespecific wavelengths used, the apparatus is optimized in a manner toenhance the performance within those bands. This includes, but is notrestricted to, optimizing the optical fiber cutoff range, thereflectivity of director (mirror) substrate, the addition of lenses, thematerial and other properties of the sheath, and other apparatus itemsthat can be changed to optimize the signal received. More particularly,the apparatus 10 includes a fiber optic probe or catheter, generallydesignated by reference numeral 12. The catheter 12 has a distal end 14.The distal end 14 of the catheter can also include an optical aperture16 through which NIR radiation is directed and/or focused (viaredirecting and focusing means 15). This aperture can be centrallylocated or directed to one side of the distal end (as shown).

An optical fiber or fiber optic bundle 20 is located within catheter 12.The fiber optic bundle 20 is operatively connected to a NIR radiationsource 30 and detector source 40 (see FIG. 1). The NIR source 30 isparticularly adapted for generating multiple (e.g., 2, 3, 4, or more)single wavelengths or a wavelength band of any 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30,40 or more nm within the overall wavelength range of from 1100 to 1415nm.

An individual NIR radiation detector 40 includes one or more detectorspresent at the distal portion of the catheter, such as lead sulfidedetectors, InGaAs, Silicon, Ge, GaAs, indium antimonide detector cooledwith liquid nitrogen, e.g., singly or in an array, for rapidly detectingthe radiation reflected or scattered back from the blood vessel wallbeing illuminated. Catheter 12 is inserted into the patient via aperipheral vessel and moved to the desired target 52 area (lesion) usingstandard techniques and methods. Then, NIR radiation within the 1100 to1415 nm wavelength range from source 30 is directed along thetransmitting fiber optic bundle 20 to the fiber optic catheter 12.There, the NIR radiation from source 30 is projected as an incident beam17 through the optical aperture 16 onto a blood vessel wall 51 (incidentlight beam is depicted in full line arrows).

A significant portion of the incident NIR radiation is projected ontopoint P of the blood vessel wall 51. The same catheter or probe thatilluminates the blood vessel walls is typically also used to collectradiation reflected from the target (the so-called “reflectancespectrum”). For example, as shown in FIG. 1, radiation is reflected backinto catheter 12 through aperture 16. The scattered, reflected radiationis shown at dash line arrows 18. Catheter 12 directs the reflectedradiation so that it falls upon detector 40 via the radiationredirecting and focusing means 15 and a beam splitter 22.

This reflected spectral information must be processed to obtain usefulinformation. As shown in FIG. 1, detector 40 is connected to a means 42for preprocessing, processing, and analyzing the detected spectra andproducing the analyzed results as a functional color scheme or othermethod to indicate whether the lesion is included or excluded from themodel thereof. Specifically, the analysis is completed over selectedwavelength region or regions of the incident NIR radiation directed uponthe tissue. Thus, reflected radiation within the wavelength range from1100 to 1415 nm is analyzed or the 1100 to 1415 nm radiation coupledwith radiation in the 1650 to 1780 nm region is analyzed. To achievethis end a computer can be used that includes appropriate analyticalalgorithms as discussed herein.

Experimental Models

The new methods are based upon studies in which NIR spectroscopy wasused to examine human aortic samples through whole blood. The samplescontained both normal and diseased tissue pertaining to various stagesof atherosclerotic plaque growth. The resulting reflectance spectra wereconverted to absorbance spectra as a function of the log of1/Reflectance and were analyzed using chemometric techniques thatprovide a means for modeling the data in such a manner to maximize thespectral information pertaining to the lipid pool content as obtainedthrough blood. Thus, the determination of plaque vulnerability is based,at least in part, on the nature of the lipid pools withinatherosclerotic plaques, and their spectral patterns when covered bythicker or thinner fibrous caps.

Computer modeling identified the NIR wavelength range from 1100 to 1415nm as unique for use in predicting the nature of the lipid pool contentin human atherosclerotic plaques. In addition, it was determined thatsufficient information could be obtained by illuminating the targettissue with two or more single wavelengths, multiple combinations ofsingle wavelengths or one or more narrow bands of wavelengths, eachcovering as few as 1, 2, 4, 10, 15, 20 or 30 nm (or up to 100 nm ormore), within this range of 1100 to 1415 nm or with a combination of the1100 to 1415 nm range with the about 1600 to 1780 nm range.

Two chemometric discriminant techniques were used in this study, PCA/MDRand PLS-DA, both based upon PCA, but there are many other discriminationmethods that can be used to build the prediction models such as thosedescribed above. As discussed above, PCA is a linear regression methodthat decomposes the spectral information into a smaller set of vectors(principal components, factors, eigenvectors, latent variables, etc.)and scalars (scores, eigenvalues, etc) that describe the variations ofthe spectral components while leaving out random noise components. Bothmethods require a training set of representative samples, but differ inthe assembly and treatment of those samples. The training set is used tobuild a mathematical relationship that recognizes similar qualities fora single (or more) classification group, and then the model acts as ascreening tool for all subsequent samples tested. The segmentation intothe various classification groups was based upon the morphology andmorphometry results of the tissue samples. Both discrimination methodsare based upon the ability of the samples containing mainly lipid pool(LP) to be distinguished from a combined set of mainly fibrotic tissue(FIB) and calcific tissue (CAL) specimens, and also from normal tissue(NML) through blood.

In the first case, PCA/MDR, the PCA scores from the LP specimen spectraare combined with the remaining noise components (residuals) and aMahalanobis Distance (MD) statistic is applied to all the scores,obtaining a model based upon the range of the distances that form anellipsoidal centroid around all the scores (see FIG. 7). Only one groupis required to build the model. The other groups are used to establishthe relative “goodness of fit” as to how well the model recognizes LPsamples and discriminates against the other diseased tissue samples.

In the second case, PLS-DA, there is a requirement for two groups to beestablished that are the hardest to distinguish between. These twogroups are required to build the model, and the method calculates a“best-fit” line that separates the PCA scores of the LP specimens fromthe PCA scores of the second group, and in this case the group is thecombined FIB and CAL specimen. FIG. 9 is a plot of the results of thePLS-DA model of PCA scores between 1100 and 1350 nm. In this case, alinear discrimination line was used to separate the principal componentscores for factor 3 (PC3) from the principal component scores fromfactor 4 (PC4), where a “factor” is the vector describing the largestinfluence remaining in the spectral matrix. A best-fit line was drawn tobest separate the scores from the lipid pool samples (LP) from those ofall other samples (in this case they were the calcific (CAL) and thefibrotic (FIB) sample scores).

To determine how well a model works, separate groups of samplesclassified by morphology were set aside and used as a validation testset, LP samples not used to build the model were used in the validationstep. Sensitivity (SENS) is the ability to recognize a sample that isthe same as the model, lipid pool samples in this case and Specificity(SPEC) is the ability of the model to disregard samples that are not thesame as the model (NML, CAL, FIB, etc). The reported SENS and SPECvalues were comprised of the percentage of the number of LP samples thatpassed (in the case of SENS) or failed (in the case of SPEC), and in thecase of the PCA/MDR model there is a the three parameter tests of themodel: (1) the model Mahalanobis Distance boundaries, (2) the scorelimits, and (3) the residual limits. Both the SENS value and the SPECvalues should be close to 100% for the better models, indicating thatthe model can classify all of the LP samples as LP and reject all othergroups tested.

As discussed in further detail in Example 1 below, human aorta tissuesamples were analyzed and characterized using standard histology andmorphology techniques. As described in Example 2, each sample wassubjected to NIR spectroscopy and the resulting reflectance spectra werecollected, analyzed, and categorized into large data sets (Example 3).

EXAMPLES

The invention is further described in the following examples, which donot limit the scope of the invention described in the claims.

Example 1 Human Aorta Tissue Sample Preparation

Human aortic tissues were obtained from the thoracic or abdominal regionof deceased patients and removed 24 hours or less after death. Thetissue samples were stored at 4° C. in saline solution or a phosphatebuffered 0.9% saline (PBS) solution. The aortas contained multiple,advanced atherosclerotic lesions unless specifically chosen as normalsamples. The aortic fat was removed from the exterior of the aorticvessel. Each specimen (plaque or normal) was removed from the aortausing a 2 cm block template with the plaque or normal region centeredwithin the block and kept moist until the near infrared (NIR)experiments were finished. The plaque sample was oriented such that themaximum lipid pool area was horizontally located in the center of thespecimen. Once the NIR spectroscopy experiment was performed, the tissuespecimen was placed in a sample holder with the upper left hand comer ofthe tissue laid in the upper left hand comer of the sample holder. Adigital photograph was taken of the entire specimen.

Example 2 Analytical Sample Setup

A NIR spectrum was obtained from each human aortic sample using a FOSS®NIRSystem®, model 6500, with a hand held ½ inch fiber optic probeattachment held in place on a vertical stage adjustment platform.VISION® software version 2.11 data acquisition software was used tocollect the spectrum and convert the data from Reflectance to Absorbanceunits. The recorded wavelength range spanned from 400 nm to 2500 nmacquiring 32 co-added scans at a 10 nm resolution. Data acquisition took45 second per sample.

As shown in FIG. 10, an experimental setup was created to hold the fiberoptic probe in place at all times during the experiment. A FOSS® probe100 was located vertically above the plaque tissue sample 110, which ispositioned on a rubber mat or pad 120. The sample was illuminatedthrough bovine blood 130. The distance between probe 100 and the sample120 is the “blood depth n.”

A Z-stage micrometer (not shown) was added to the platform to regulatethe vertical adjustments of the FOSS probe 100 and to measure thedistance from the surface of the sample (zero point) and upwards at0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 mm increments. The specimen wasplaced on the center of a 4×4×0.5 cm³ black rubber pad 120. The aorticsample 110 with the intimal side facing up was fixed over the rubberwith pins at all four comers, and then placed in a small PYREX® dish 140that holds up to 100 ml of liquid. The sample dish was then placed intoa recirculating heated water bath set to 38° C. as monitored by amercury thermometer.

The optical FOSS® probe was adjusted until it contacted the top of theplaque (or normal) sample and the micrometer was set to zero (0). Foreach of the probe placements the data acquisition was performed twicewithout moving the probe. The sample was first scanned in air at thezero mark and then the probe was raised to 2 mm and scanned again. Asolution of 0.9% saline (warmed to 38° C.) was then poured into theglass dish immersing both the sample and probe to a height well above 10mm. The sample was scanned and then the saline was removed using asyringe, without moving the sample or the dish.

Fresh 40% hematocrit bovine blood anti-coagulated with heparin (warmedto 38° C.) was placed in the PYREX® container up to a height of about 15mm. The probe was lowered back to the zero position (0 mm on themicrometer) and the sample was then scanned in the bovine blood. Theprobe (using the micrometer) was moved to 0.25 mm and the sample wasagain scanned, the process repeated for 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0mm distances between the probe tip and the tissue sample.

All the digital data files were converted from Reflectance to Absorbanceand then stored. All of the NIR spectra were visually inspected for dataconsistency using the VISION® software. Certain data sets were thenexcluded from further use based on 1) all spectra within a data set didnot change with respect to the depth changes, and 2) some samples withina data set changed with respect to depth and other did not.

The results are shown in FIG. 4A, which displays a lipid pool plaquesample at various sample-to-probe distances. FIG. 4B is a plot of thesame data shown in FIG. 4A, but the data was offset (normalized) by theabsorbance at 1125 nm for each spectrum, showing differences that existbetween the samples.

Example 3 Morphological and Morphometric Analysis to Create Data Sets

After processing by NIR spectroscopy, the samples were fixed overnightin a 3% formalin solution. Samples that showed gross evidence ofcalcification were decalcified in 5% HCl in formalin for 4 hoursfollowing formalin fixation.

Sectioning of the specimens was done by hand with a scalpel into threesegments, and those three segments were divided (again by hand) intothree subsections and placed within paraffin for sectioning. The slideswere made from the approximate middle of the subsections at 500 to 750microns into the block. For the suspected plaque lesion samples, severalribbons were taken from the following subsections: the centermost piece,and the four edge pieces that touch the center piece. FIG. 11 is aschematic diagram of the histology layout used for processing the tissuespecimen. Nine segments (labeled A1 through C3) were removed, with thesegments subtended by the FOSS® probe illumination circle (centercircle) of most importance (segments A3, B1, B2, B3, C1) in theanalysis. The stars indicate the approximate center of each of thesegments from which the slices for slides were taken to avoid edgeeffects from the gross cutting. For the normal specimens only thecenter, and two outer pieces were analyzed (see FIG. 11, segments A3,B2, C1).

Five slides were made for staining purposes, two using H&E and two usingTrichrome-Elastin and one spare blank slide. There were 25 slides foreach plaque sample and 15 slides for each normal sample. One stainingset was produced for planimetry analysis using all the slices, andanother set was made for initial morphology analysis using only thecentermost B2 slices.

The morphology (or overall description) for each specimen wascharacterized from the histology of the stained slides for each of thesubsections. Within each slide subsection, only the area illuminated bythe FOSS® probe was considered in the analysis (see central circle inFIG. 11). The probe diameter was ½ inch (1.27 cm), but the actuallyprojection area used for histology was approximated as a 1 cm diametercircle within the center of the tissue sample to approximate tissueshrinkage and light scattering events during the NIR analysis.

The initial morphology of the samples was performed based upon accepteddescriptions of normal and vulnerable plaque tissues established byVirmani et al at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP)Arteriosclerosis. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., 2000, 20:1262. Plaque sampleswere further separated into lipid pool, fibrous, or calcific plaqueswith the extremes being classified as having the majority of the mainconstituent within the probe illumination area. Approximate lipid poolwidth and depth along with average and minimum cap thickness were alsorecorded for most of the lipid pool samples.

Computerized morphometry (planimetry) was performed for all the stainedtissue slices. The morphometric analysis was used to determine the TotalPlaque Area (subtended by the FOSS probe) then separated out into TotalLipid Pool Area, % Lipid Pool Area to Total Plaque Area, and CapThickness (measured at the thinnest region only). Further, cap thicknessmeasurements were obtained for all the data samples that contained lipidpools. The average cap thickness was measured over the center 10 mm ofthe centermost section to provide an average cap thickness value.

The normal samples were also analyzed to determine if the tissue of theouter subsections were free of disease. Any start of disease or lipidpool found in the segments disqualified the specimen as normal. Thenormal samples were from individuals that ranged in age from as young as29 up to 87 years of age. Most of the normal samples came fromindividuals that did not have any disease.

Samples selected for the study represented the diseased plaques of LP,FIB, or CAL along with the NML tissue, all within the FOSS probesubtended area. The LP samples selection was based upon the size of thetotal plaque area (only the larger plaques were used to build the model)and the ratio of the mean Cap Thickness to the percentage of LP area andthe percentage of the LP area to total plaque area (smaller caps onlarger LP plaques were ranked as good LP extreme samples).

Example 4 Data Set Development

A subset of the full data set was formed using the histology analysis asdescribed in Example 3.

The data was segmented out by the two pathologists and then classifiedas extreme classification samples. The extremes were classified asconsisting predominately of one disease component, without regard to thethickness of the cap on the lesion. The full dataset contained a totalof 207 samples with 194 usable. The files used for modeling were chosenusing two criteria: (i) being in the top ⅓ largest plaques in the sampleset, and (ii) the average cap thickness (in microns), in a ratio to thepercent lipid pool area to the total diseased plaque area. Thisthreshold was set to be less than 18, determined as the middle of thehistogram plot of all the data. This filter process resulted in a totalof 33 extreme plaques and 27 Normal (NML) samples. The plaque sampleswere further classified as 16 Lipid Pool (LP), 8 Calcific (CAL), and 9Fibrotic (FIB).

To increase the number of plaque samples in the model, 2 lipid-filleddisrupted plaque (DP) samples were added to the calibration set andanother 2 lipid-filled DP samples to the validation set. This increasedthe number of LP samples to 10 samples per each set, validation, orcalibration. These DP plaque samples were chosen because they were largein size, had very thin to non-existent caps, and still retained a largeamount of pooled lipid within the plaque.

Example 5 Determination of the Wavelength Range of 1100 to 1415 nm

The final method used to evaluate the data sets was the linearregression model based upon the Mahalanobis Distance and the scores fromthe PCA decomposition, the PCA/MDR method. Within the different regionstested, most predictive regions were found to cluster in the region fromabout 1100 to 1415 nm, and more particularly from about 1150 nm to 1350nm, about 1175 to 1280, and about 1190 to 1250 nm. The data were firstpreprocessed for scatter removal using Standard Normal Variant (SNV)with Mean Centering (MC). Overall the SNV with MC preprocessing optionprovided the best SENS and SPEC results for all models tested ascompared to no preprocessing, mean centering, first derivative, secondderivative, and other preprocessing options tested. The best bandregions found for the dual 30 nm test were from 1175 nm to 1205 nmcombined with 1310 nm to 1340 nm, and 1145 to 1175 nm combined with 1250to 1280 nm. 88% of the LP samples fit the model first model with 86% ofthe FIB and CAL samples, and 100% of the NML samples were rejected bythe model. For the second set of bands, 90% of the LP samples fit themodel and 86% of the FIB and CAL samples, and 86% of the NML wererejected by that model.

Specifically, the PCA/MDR model was used to determine the range ofconfigurations that could be used for discriminating plaques containingmainly lipid pool from other disease types and also non-disease types. Aminimum of two selected wavelengths or one or more narrow wavelengthbands (e.g., one wavelength and one narrow band) within the wavelengthrange of 1100 to 1415 nm are required. Either continuous ordiscontinuous wavelengths or regions can be used to build the modelwithout restriction to size. Many PCA/MDR models were made using thedata files for the specimens containing mainly lipid pool anddiscriminated against fibrotic and calcific lesions together, and thenthe normal tissue, while also encompassing the variations of the spectraas seen through blood as the probe is progressively moved away from thetissue. The assessment of the models that were tested were obtained fromthe prediction results of all the plaque types, with a tissue to probeseparation value from 0.0 mm to 3.0 mm (see FIG. 4), which represent theexpected range of distances between the examination device and thetissue being examined in vivo. Larger distances can also be examined.

The calibration model testing process was repeated eight times withrandomly chosen lipid pool samples each time. Each repeated calibrationprocess was averaged over all the regions tested providing the MeanPerformance results. These results are displayed in the “projectionplots” in FIGS. 8A to 8C for model spectra that were preprocessed usingStandard Normal Variant (SNV) and Mean Centering (MC). From thoseresults, the regions from 1100 nm to 1415 nm and a combination of bandsfrom the 1100 nm to 1415 nm region in conjunction with bands in theabout 1650 nm to 1780 nm regions (e.g., 1650 to 1730 nm) resulted inmany useful models. Each model prediction result was captured as thenumber of the test lipid pool samples predicted to be part of the model(i.e., vulnerable plaque), and the number of calcific and fibrotic, andthen normal tissue samples (i.e., safe plaque), that were excluded fromthe model, and reported as Percent Sensitivity and Percent Specificity1and Percent Specificity2, respectively.

These results were combined as a single metric to generate FIGS. 8A to8C, in which the x-axis plots the beginning value of the first 30 nmwindow region and the y-axis plots the beginning value of the second 30nm window region used in model.

To generate FIG. 8A, two moving “windows” of 30 nm each were testedspanning from 1100 nm to 1850 nm at 15 mm intervals. The X-axis plotsthe beginning value of the first 30 nm window region and the Y-axisplots the beginning value of the second 30 nm window region used in themodel. Only those results greater than 1.8 (equivalent to a minimumresponse of 60% sensitivity with respect to lipid pool samples not usedto build the model, 60% specificity with respect to calcific andfibrotic samples combined, and 60% specificity with respect to thenormal samples) were retained. The best result would be 3.0corresponding to 100% sensitivity and specificity for all groups.Specific areas of high Mean Performance occur in the lighter shadedareas and in particular in the regions from 1100 nm to 1415 nm, and moreparticularly, 1100 to 1350 nm. Areas of higher Mean Performance occur inthe most lightly shaded (highlighted) areas and in particular in theregion from 1190 nm to 1250 nm.

FIGS. 8B and 8C are two projection plots of the mean performance usingtwo separate 30 nm bands as in FIG. 8A, but tested at a higherresolution of 2 nm intervals and spanning the region from 1100 nm to1350 nm. The X-axis plots the beginning value of the first 30 nm windowregion and the Y-axis plots the beginning value of the second 30 nmwindow region used in model. A higher threshold was applied to this data(compared to FIG. 8A) so that only those models where the minimumretained value for sensitivity with respect to lipid pool samples was70%, for specificity with respect to calcific and fibrotic samplescombined was 70%, and for specificity with respect to the normal sampleswas 70%. The best result would be 3.0 corresponding to 100% sensitivityand specificity for all groups and the minimum would be 2.1.

In FIG. 8B, the data was first pretreated using a Savitsky-Golaysmoothed first derivative followed by mean centering, and in FIG. 8C thedata was first pretreated using Standard Normal Variate with meancentering. The highest Mean Performance for FIG. 8B occurred in thelighter shaded areas and in particular in the regions from about 1150 nmto 1250 nm, and for FIG. 8C, the region spanned from about 1175 nm to1280 nm.

For example, one embodiment uses two 30 nm band regions that arediscontinuous in the region from 1190 nm to 1290 nm as seen in FIGS. 8Band 8C by the grey areas within the very light white region from 1190 to1290 nm. Another embodiment uses bands from 1175 to 1205 nm with 1310 to1340 nm. Alternatively, another embodiment uses bands from 1145 to 1175nm with 1250 to 1280 nm.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

It is to be understood that while the invention has been described inconjunction with the detailed description thereof, the foregoingdescription is intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of theinvention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Otheraspects, advantages, and modifications are within the scope of thefollowing claims.

1. An in vivo method for characterizing plaque composition in a bloodvessel wall, the method comprising (a) through whole blood, illuminatinga tissue in the blood vessel wall with any two or more singlewavelengths or one or more narrow wavelength bands of near-infraredradiation within a wavelength range of about 1100 to 1415 nm; (b)through whole blood, detecting radiation reflected from the tissue, theradiation having a wavelength of from about 1100 to 1415 mn; (c)processing the detected radiation to characterize the plaquecomposition; and (d) providing an output indicative of thecharacterization of the plaque composition.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the one or more narrow wavelength bands each span about 1.0 nmto about 100 nm within the wavelength range of 1100 to 1415 nm.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein two single wavelengths are used.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein two narrow wavelength bands, each spanning1.0 nm to 30 nm within the wavelength range of 1100 to 1415 nm are used.5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one narrow wavelength bandand at least one single wavelength are used.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein the wavelength range is about 1100 to 1350 nm.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the wavelength range is about 1150 to 1250 nm.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the wavelength range is about 1175 to 1280nm.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the wavelength range is about 1190to 1250 nm.
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising illuminatingthe tissue in the blood vessel wall with any two or more singlewavelengths or one or more narrow wavelength bands of near-infraredradiation within a second wavelength range of about 1600 nm to 1780 nm;and further detecting radiation reflected from the tissue having asecond wavelength of from about 1600 nm to 1780 nm.
 11. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the second wavelength range is about 1650 to 1730 nm.12. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing is done usingchemometric discrimination algorithms.
 13. The method of claim 1,further comprising preprocessing the detected radiation to removespectral information not related to a characterization of the tissue.14. The method of claim 1, wherein the blood vessel is an artery. 15.The method of claim 1, wherein the blood vessel is a coronary artery.16. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue comprises a lipid pool.17. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue comprises a lipid pool anda thin fibrous cap.
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissuecomprises a lipid pool and a thick fibrous cap.
 19. The method of claim1, wherein the tissue comprises fibrotic or calcific tissue.
 20. Anapparatus for characterizing plaque composition within a blood vesselcontaining whole blood, said apparatus comprising: a near-infraredradiation source that generates radiation for illumination of tissuethrough blood, the radiation comprising any two or more singlewavelengths or one or more narrow wavelength bands of near-infraredradiation within a wavelength range of about 1100 to 1415 nm, theradition being sufficient to penetrate whole blood; one or moreradiation conduits for transmitting radiation from the radiation source,through whole blood, to the tissue and for receiving radiation notabsorbed by the tissue; a radiation detector that collects radiation notabsorbed by the tissue across a wavelength range of substantially 1100to 1415 nm, the radiation detector having a sensitivity sufficient todetect the radiation after the radiation has been attenuaded by wholeblood; a processor that processes the collected radiation to determinethe composition of plaque in the tissue; and an output device forproviding output characterizing the plaque composition.
 21. Theapparatus of claim 20, wherein the near-infrared radiation sourcegenerates a wavelength range of about 1100 to 1350 nm.
 22. The apparatusof claim 20, wherein the near-infrared radiation source generates twonarrow wavelength bands, each spanning 1.0 nm to 30 nm within thewavelength range of 1100 to 1415 nm.
 23. The apparatus of claim 20,wherein the near-infrared radiation source generates a wavelength rangeof about 1150 to 1250 nm.
 24. The apparatus of claim 20, furthercomprising a near-infrared radiation source that generates radiationcomprising any two or more single wavelengths or one or more narrowwavelength bands of near-infrared radiation within a second wavelengthrange of about 1600 to 1780 nm.
 25. An instrument for in vivocharacterization of plaques, the instrument comprising a) means forilluminating plaques through whole blood, the means for illuminatingusing near-infrared radiation comprising any two or more singlewavelengths or one or more narrow wavelength bands of near-infraredradiation within a wavelength range of about 1100 to 1415 nm; b) meansfor collecting radiation through whole blood, the radiation being withinthe wavelength range that is not absorbed by the plaques; c) means fordetermining, from the collected radiation the amounts of absorbance ofradiation by the illuminated plaques; and d) means for discriminatingone illuminated plaque from another illuminated plaque within thewavelength range, wherein the discriminating means comprises i) meansfor preprocessing the absorbance amounts using a chemometricpreprocessing technique, and ii) means for performing a chemometricdiscrimination algorithm on the preprocessed absorbance amounts tocharacterize the plaques; and e) means for providing an outputindicating the characterization of plaque composition.
 26. A method forin vivo characterization of plaque in blood vessel walls utilizing afiber optic probe, the method comprising: introducing the probe into ablood vessel; directing, throught whole blood between the probe and thewall and onto a plaque in the blood vessel wall, near-infrared radiationcomprising any two or more single wavelengths or one or more narrowwavelength bands within a wavelength range of about 1100 to 1415 nm;throught whole blood, detecting radiation not absorbed by the bloodvessel wall, the detected radiation having a wavelength within the rangeof substantially 1100 to 1415 nm: and analyzing the detected radiationto categorize the plaque in the blood vessel wall.
 27. An in vivo methodfor characterizing a plaque in a blood vessel wall, the methodcomprising: (a) through whole blood, illuminating a plaque in the bloodvessel wall with any two or more single wavelengths of near-infraredradiation within a wavelength range consisting of wavelengths from about1100 nm to about 1415 nm; (b) detecting, through whole blood, radiationreflected from the plaque, the reflected radiation having a wavelengthof from about 1100 to 1415 nm; (c) processing the detected radiation tocharacterize the plaque in the blood vessel wall; and (d) providing anoutput indicating the plaque characterization.
 28. The method of claim1, wherein illuminating a plaque comprises scanning the tissue withhaving a wavelength that varies between two wavelengths within the rangeof about 1100 to 1415 nm.
 29. An in vivo method for characterizingplaque composition of a plaque in a blood vessel wall, the methodcomprising: (a) through whole blood, illuminating a tissue in the bloodvessel wall with any two or more single wavelengths of near-infraredradiation from within a particular wavelength range; (b) through wholeblood, detecting radiation reflected from the tissue, the reflectedradiation having a wavelength within the particular wavelength range;(c) processing the detected radiation to characterize the plaque in theblood vessel wall; and (d) providing an output indicating thecharacterization; wherein the particular wavelength range consists ofwavelengths between about 1100 nm and about 1415 nm.
 30. An in vivomethod for characterizing plaque in a blood vessel wall, the methodcomprising: selecting a plurality of single wavelengths from a firstband that consists of wavelengths between 1100 nm and 1415 nm; throughwhole blood, illuminating a plaque on the blood vessel wall with NIRhaving the wavelengths selected from the first band; through wholeblood, detecting radiation reflected from the plaque, the detectedradiation having a wavelength from within the first band; processing thedetected radiation to characterize the plaque; and providing an outputindicative of the plaque characterization.